Goalkeeper Courtois to remain at struggling Chelsea

London, May 4 (IANS) Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has asserted that he will stay with the former English Premier League (EPL) champions next season despite the absence of Champions League football and interest from French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.

“I have a contract for three years, so I will say 100 percent. Rumours affect any club where things are going badly. People think the top players want to leave because they are not in the Champions League,” Courtois told Le Parisien.

“Everyone knows it is our fault we will not play in that competition next year. It has happened to Manchester United and to Dortmund, and it is heartbreaking. This year, we have not defended our title well like we needed to. We must regather our forces to return stronger and get back to the Champions League,” he added.

Chelsea’s defence of their EPL title this season was a disaster and they lie ninth on the points table with two matches to go and have missed out on next season’s Champions League. PSG on the other hand, have won their fourth consecutive domestic title.

Courtouis also denied that he was approached by PSG, asserting that he is enjoying his stint in England and would like to stay on.

“I have never had any contact with PSG. I have played a lot against PSG recently — twice last season, again this season in a friendly and twice more in the Champions League this year. They are a good club who win their league easily. Me, I like playing in England,” the 23-year-old Belgium international said.